Long post - Diaphragm/body wall cancer - how long??

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I took our lovely 8 year old tux to the vet last Friday as he had started to have a runny nose/sneezing/ dry retching and drinking lots of water. To cut a long story short on Monday I was told he had early stage kidney disease but they still wanted to check his heart Amd unfortunately the lab had not done the test. I then had to take him in Tuesday to have the bloods done again, but he got very distressed with his breathing amd they did anx-ray followed by contrast dye CT scan which showed a huge inoperable tumour which is adhering to his organs and has spread and he had fluid in his lungs.

We brought him home and he was really poorly (he went in fine) and I thought about ending it then as he was struggling to breathe. I slept on the floor next to him Tuesday night but now I think it was the sedation and travel (he hates the car) He is on diuretics and has gradually got better Wednesday and yesterday and is eating well, still drinking lots. Jumping up on to window cills, on to bed, up out of l the velux window. He is basically almost normal.

We know it will not last, but whilst he is enjoying life ( and being spoilt rotten and is very happy!) we want to enjoy his company. As soon as it looks like he is suffering we will not hesitate to do what it right by him. We are all heartbroken but grateful for this extra time.

So my question is (sorry I know that was long) does anybody have any experience of this apparently rare cancer?

Photos of my boy right now by my feet, today on window ledge and in a suitcase 😂 three weeks ago.

I am so sorry for you and your lovely boy.

If you're looking for potential timescales, I'm afraid every case is different e.g. a friend of mine had pancreatic cancer, was given 4 months, lived another 3 years. My Boycat had CKD, many cats live pretty long lives with that, he was PTS 9 months after having had a perfect condition MoT & 6 months after 1st symptoms started (again, a young cat only 8 when PTS).

Just keep doing what you are doing for now, not much point in offering him meds or special vet foods if he doesn't like them as you're only prolonging the time he has left by a little but reducing his enjoyment of it. Signs to look out for are the coat losing condition e.g. looking spiky or getting greasy, appetite loss and/or weight loss, calling out for no apparent reason, looking confused (he will be by that stage poor dear), and changes in behaviour e.g. extra cuddly or hiding away lots.

How I handled things with Boycat's CKD was once I could see the end was close I booked him in for PTS for a couple of weeks time, with obviously the proviso that if he deteriorated rapidly I would being him in earlier, and spent that time spoiling him, feeding him his favorites despite them not being particularly good for him like ham (face it, he would be gone before they impacted his health), giving him all the love and cuddles he wanted.

I researched all the options for afterwards e.g. type of cremation, what I wanted to do with the ashes, did I want a posh urn, did I want some ashes in a keepsake like jewellery & wrote it all down so I wouldn't have to think on the day. I booked that day off work plus the following day, and arranged for someone to come with me. Seems morbid, but having everything sorted in advance did help me on the day.

I had no choice really in getting another cat to fill the hole left, as his indoor only litter sister would need a companion (I work out of the home), but maybe have that in the back of your mind. No need to feel guilty as any new cat couldn't replace your boy in your heart & mind, but may help fill the cat shaped hole in your life.

And finally at the end of this long post remember a week to soon is better than a day too late.

@Allergictoironing thank you for your message. I think planning the way forwards is a great idea to help us all make those decisions as a family. We are definitely going to have the vet come to our home as travelling really upsets our boy and we have all of that in hand. But we do need to decide on what comes after that with cremation etc.

We also totally agree with the not leaving it too late. I can’t bear the thought of him suffering. We will only do what is right for him. We love him so much and he has given us so much love in return. He is sitting here making biscuits on me and it feels so unfair. We have only had home 3 1/2 years as he was a rescue but they have been lovely years - just not enough of them.

Thank you

There may have only been a few years, but they will have been his best years surrounded by love with his own family and home.

I think the reason you didn't get any other replies to your post was because people just didn't really know what to say to you as a new (to the Litter Tray) poster; usually once we know someone here we know what tone to take so we don't upset someone. Plus I know it was quite painful for me to recall all the end of life symptoms Boycat showed, and imagine that would be the same for others. But I had pull on my big girl pants to reach out so you knew that you weren't being ignored.

Do feel free to post here or PM me for any other questions about terminal end of life care. I won't have all the answers, and others may disagree with my views - though my vet agreed with me over Boycat, and said it was refreshing to have someone who didn't want every possible heroic effort to be made to prolong a pet's life by doing upsetting treatments when the pet wouldn't understand why.

Give him a big snuggle & chin scritch from me, he's a very handsome boy.

Thank you@Allergictoironing he does love a chin scratch.
I have never posted on here before but before/when we got him I found it a really useful resource to understand how to make him happy and comfortable in his new home. So will always be grateful to the Litter Tray l, and I am sorry I didn’t mean to upset you or anybody else. 🙏

You didn't upset me, I still have days when I miss him so much it hurts - he was my "soul cat". I adore his sister, I dearly love her new companion despite his little ways, but they hold slightly different places in my heart.

Keep posting here as things progress, it may help to dump about it all to 3rd parties who aren't your immediate family, and keep asking for advice if you need it. On the whole we're a decent bunch here, though we can have the tendency to get over-involved in the lives of each other's cats!

We said goodbye to our gorgeous boy today. He enjoyed some time in his favourite spot in the garden before he left us. Thank you @Allergictoironing

Goodbye to your gorgeous boy, I do hope you are coping OK. You gave him his best 3.5 years, then did the best for him at the end. No cat can ask for any more.

The previous pictures didn't show what a fabulous long nose he has - I'm a sucker for a long nose (though Tobias's little snub nose is very cute too).

You'll probably find you realise you have a cat-shaped hole in your lives, and you need to remember 3 things. You are not being disloyal to his memory by giving another cat in need a home, in a way you're honouring it. Secondly whoever you find to fill that hole doesn't need to fill it precisely, in fact it's better to get someone a bit different. And finally try not to compare any new cat to your old boy as they will never be able to replace him in your heart, they will just find their own spot near to his.

Very un-mumsnetty hugs from me, Girlcat & Tobias. Come back to tell us about your new boy or girl, and in the interim remember you're still welcome here.

I'm so sorry. He was a beautiful cat and it sounds like he had an absolutely lovely life with you.

I’m so sorry you had to say goodbye to your beautiful boy- what a handsome fellow. It sounds like you gave him the very best 3.5 years he could have had, completely filled with love. And you did the very best for him right until the end. Sleep well little one.

Thank you @Allergictoironing, @JoanOgden and @Minimilia. He was very special and we all miss him very much. I keep expecting him to come in the cat flap, follow me to the loo or race me down the stairs. His presence is everywhere. Over the weekend I will move some of his things but for now it comforts me to see them and it just feels as if he is outside.
He really did have a long nose 🤥 🥰